Method for grinding the sides of the teeth of flexible card clothing on a card engine

ABSTRACT

Method for grinding the sides of the teeth of flexible card clothing by continuously grinding the sides of the teeth along the full width of said card engine. The grinder comprises a rotatable shaft on which is mounted a plurality of spaced apart abrasive discs along the entire length of the shaft. The grinder extends the entire width of the card engine and while rotating about the axis of the shaft also reciprocates in the direction of the axis to grind the sides of the teeth along the full width of the card engine.

United States Patent Hollingsworth [451 Mar. 21, 1972 54] METHOD FOR GRINDING THE SIDES 940,015 11/1909 OF THE TEETH OF FLEXIBLE CARD 888,675 11/1932 CLOTHING ON A CARD ENGINE 11904508 4/1933 3,528,136 9/1970 [72] Inventor: John D. Hollingsworth, PO. Box 516,

Greenville, SC. 29202 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22 27,1970 610,977 6/1926 France ..5l/206 P [2]] Appl' 84,449 Primary ExaminerDonald G. Kelly Related U s Applicmon Data Attorney-Leonard W. Sherman and Robert L. Minier [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 739,131, June 21, [57] I ABSTRACT 1968 abandoned' Method for grinding the sides of the teeth of flexible card clothing by continuously grinding the sides of the teeth along (g1. ..51/327, 194,920, the full width of said card engine. The grinder comprises a 58 1 Fieid K 134 5 rotatable shaft on which is mounted a plurality of spaced apart 5 l lzsl R 5 206R abrasive discs along the entire length of the shaft. The grinder extends the entire width of the card engine and while rotating about the axis of the shaft also reciprocates in the direction of [56] References Cited the axis to grind the sides of the teeth along the full width of UNITED STATES PATENTS the card engine- Audette ..l9/98 1 ClainuZDrawingFigures PATENTEDHARZI m2 FIG.

4 TO DRIVE INVENTOR JOHN D. HOLLINGSWORTH ATTORNEY METHOD FOR GRINDING THE SIDES OF THE TEETH OF FLEXIBLE CARD CLOTHING ON A CARD ENGINE This is a continuation-in-part application of my copending US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 739,131, filed June 21, l968, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to grinding mechanisms especially adapted for grinding and regrinding points on the teeth of flexible card clothing and the like used in the textile industry.

In the carding operation, the teeth on the various parts of the card will become dull after continued use. It is common practice to grind the points of these teeth to resharpen them. The teeth will accept a certain number of these regrinding operations and then the entire tooth, that is the sides, will have to be reground in order to provide a new point. The present in vention provides a method for grinding the sides of the teeth of flexible card clothing along the entire width of the card engine, to provide new points. The method of the present invention may also be used to provide original points on the teeth of card clothing.

Flexible card clothing is mounted on cylinders of various diameters or flats which cooperate with the cylinder. The cylinders have a width of 40 inches or greater and the flats are a similar width. In the past, in order to side grind the teeth of card clothing on these cylinders or flats, a grinding head is positioned adjacent the teeth to be ground and while the teeth are moved the grinder is rotated and traversed across the width of the card. For example, the grinding head may have a width of 6-12 inches and will comprise a series of abrasive discs mounted on a shaft and forming the outside of the grinding head. These discs will be spaced apart a small distance and this grinding head will be mounted so that the discs as they rotate extend a depth of one-sixteenth inch or more into the teeth of the card clothing. The grinding head will be traversed across the entire width of the card at a very slow speed. The time required to side grind the teeth of the clothing is quite extensive in order not to damage the teeth clothing.

In accordance with the present invention, 1 have developed a method for grinding the sides of the teeth of flexible card clothing which greatly reduces the time of grinding and virtually eliminates the possibility of damage to the clothing.

In accordance with the present invention, my new method comprises grinding the sides of the teeth along the entire width of a card engine. A grinder, comprising a rotatable shaft extending the entire width of the card engine and having a plurality of thin abrasive discs mounted along substantially the entire length of the shaft, is mounted adjacent the flexible card clothing so that the discs extend down between the teeth of the flexible card clothing a distance of at least one-sixteenth inch. The discs rotate along with the shaft and the discs and shaft are also reciprocated in the direction of the axis of the shaft to grind the sides of the teeth of the clothing along the entire width of the card engine at substantially the same time. The discs are spaced apart from about one-sixteenth to threesixteenths inch. The entire shaft with the discs mounted thereon is reciprocated in the direction of the axis of the shaft from about 1/16 to 1 inch. The minimum distance that the shaft must reciprocate is the distance between adjacent discs. This mechanism grinds the entire width of the card clothing in a relatively short time.

The invention will be more fully described when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a side grinding mechanism which may be used in the method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the side grinding mechanism as it is grinding flexible card clothing.

Referring to FIG. 1 the side grinding mechanism comprises a shaft 10. The shaft is mounted for rotation and for transverse movement in suitable bearings 11 and I2. Mounted on one end of the shaft and keyed thereto is a wheel 13 about which a pulley or chain drive may be attached for rotation of the shaft. Mounted at one end of the shaft adjacent one of the bearings are two circular members 14 and 15. These members are keyed to the shaft so that they rotate with the shaft. Mounted between the members and separately driven is a cam 16. This cam is rotated in the direction of the rotational arrow. The rotating cam reciprocates the shaft in the direction of its axis.

Mounted on the shaft are a plurality of abrasive discs 20. The discs are mounted with metal or plastic or other suitable spacers 21 between each disc. The discs and spacers are mounted on the shaft and pressed together by the end spacers 22. In operation, the shaft with the discs and spacers mounted thereon is rotated. The cam 16 rotates and reciprocates the shaft in the direction of its axis a short distance from about 1/16 to 1 inch.

As may be more clearly seen in FIG. 2, the flexible card clothing comprises a foundation 30 having embedded therein flexible wire teeth 31. The clothing moves in the direction of the arrow shown. The side grinding mechanism of the present invention 32 is mounted adjacent the teeth as shown. The abrasive discs 33 are mounted on the shaft 34 with the spacers 35 between adjacent abrasive discs as described above. The abrasive discs are positioned into the flexible teeth a distance of about one-sixteenth of an inch. The abrasive discs rotate in the direction of the arrows shown and also reciprocate in the direction of the axis of the shaft to grind the teeth along the entire width of the clothing.

The abrasive discs are usually emery wheels which have thin beveled edges to move in-between the flexible teeth.

Although all of the various holders, pulleys, belts, or like mechanical means including suitable framing have not been illustrated completely in the drawings or described in the specification for driving or supporting the various cylinders, etc., at their desired or required speeds or with the rotation or movement indicated by their arrows, it is to be appreciated that such elements have been omitted to keep the drawings and description succinct and to avoid the introduction of matters which are well-known expedients in the art. The mechanical driving means and various frames which are used are conventional and merely involve the application of various wellknown mechanical principles.

It is to be understood that these changes and modifications may be made to the mechanism as herein described without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In the method of grinding the sides of the teeth of flexible card clothing on a card engine, using a side grinding mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft having a plurality of thin abrasive discs mounted on the shaft, said grinding mechanism mounted adjacent the card clothing to be ground so that the abrasive discs extend between the teeth of the clothing at least a distance of one-sixteenth inch; the improvement which comprises extending the shaft with the abrasive discs thereon across the full width of the card engine and reciprocating the shaft in the direction of its axis from 1/16 to 1 inch whereby the teeth of the flexible card clothing along the full width of the card engine are ground at substantially the same time. 

1. In the method of grinding the sides of the teeth of flexible card clothing on a card engine, using a side grinding mechanism comprising a rotAtable shaft having a plurality of thin abrasive discs mounted on the shaft, said grinding mechanism mounted adjacent the card clothing to be ground so that the abrasive discs extend between the teeth of the clothing at least a distance of one-sixteenth inch; the improvement which comprises extending the shaft with the abrasive discs thereon across the full width of the card engine and reciprocating the shaft in the direction of its axis from 1/16 to 1 inch whereby the teeth of the flexible card clothing along the full width of the card engine are ground at substantially the same time. 